Update: via Last Night in Little Rock: The judge's attempted resignation is now said to be as Presiding Judge in Saddam's trial. He is willing to remain on the tribunal. Whether the judge would remain on Saddam's trial or move to another trial is not clear. At any rate, the resignation has not been accepted and the powers that be are working to have the judge withdraw it.
The NY Times this morning offer this:
A resignation by Judge Amin would bring more disarray to an already turbulent trial process and embarrass the United States, which oversaw the tribunal's creation. ...
Some Iraqi political leaders have angrily criticized Judge Amin for not reining in the defendants, saying the former dictator's televised displays of defiance can only embolden his followers in the insurgency.
An American official who advises the tribunal has made comments suggesting that he, too, is impatient with the judge's courtroom management.
Sometimes judges let defendants have their say, just to give the appearance of fairness. Just ask Alice.
The Times comment harkens back to "Alice In Wonderland," and the United States seems like the King and Queen, with Ramsey Clark or any of the defense lawyers as the White Rabbit:
The King turned pale, and shut his note-book hastily.
âConsider your verdict,â he said to the jury, in a low trembling voice.
âThereâs more evidence to come yet, please your Majesty,â said the White Rabbit, jumping up in a great hurry: âthis paper has just been picked up.â
...
"Let the jury consider their verdict,â the King said, for about the twentieth time that day.
âNo, no!â said the Queen. âSentence firstâ”verdict afterward.â
âStuff and nonsense!â said Alice loudly. âThe idea of having the sentence first!â
âHold your tongue!â said the Queen, turning purple.
The Saddam Trial Blog is here, and it doesn't even mention this as of Sunday afternoon.
Second Update: From Aljazeera.net at 5:55 p.m. Iraq time: Other members of the court traveled to the judge's hometown to talk him out of resigning. The resignation still has not been accepted.